One of the most prominent challenges I have faced in my life is high-functioning autism. Having autism has affected my abilities to socialize with people and reading the emotions of other people. I was diagnosed with autism at about two and a half years old. Since then, I have had trouble making connections with others. This includes starting conversations and forming friendships. Because of my social issues, I prefer to have a few close friends rather than several friends. Another difficulty that has come with my autism is deciphering how others are feeling. It takes some time for me to read facial expressions and body language. I have made some improvements with these issues over the years, but they still pose challenges in my life.

To deal with the problems I face due to my autism, I spent much of elementary and middle school doing occupational therapy. Through therapy, I worked on my fine motor skills and sensory issues such as tolerating loud noises. These difficulties were largely resolved over the years thanks to several types of therapy. However, while I have improved my physical abilities and some of my social skills, I still have trouble initiating conversations and developing personal relationships. Personal experience, though, is helping me take steps in the right direction.

One of the most prominent interests I have had in my life has been the performing arts. I have been invested in acting, singing, and dancing for as long as I can remember. Having been involved in several performances has not only allowed me to pursue my ultimate passion, it has also helped me cope with the challenges autism has presented. Performing has drastically improved my confidence in myself and my abilities. Not only has it made me more comfortable around others, it has also helped me to understand interactions. By emulating social situations, acting enables me to read emotions and respond accordingly along with deciding when and when not to draw attention to myself. Being a performer has overall shaped me into someone who can be prepared for real-life scenarios where my skills obtained from my experience onstage can help me be more successful.

I want to study theatre because I want to continue expanding my horizons and enhance the abilities I have learned from the performing arts. I believe that going forward with a career in performing will increase my confidence and social expertise both on and off the stage. Additionally, I want to be a role model to other autistic people with similar goals by exemplifying the potential they have to achieve them. Autistic people are not often represented in the media, so becoming involved in larger productions will hopefully inspire them to make a name for themselves. By gaining a higher education in theatre, I hope to not only live out my dreams of being an actress, but to be a force for positive change in the performing arts community as a whole.